10 Summer Horse Care Resources on TheHorse.com

While the long summer days provide plenty of riding time, the high temperatures and humidity some regions experience can make simply caring for horses a challenging endeavor.

Photo: Adam Spradling/The Horse

Summer has just begun, which means that the hottest and most demanding days likely still lie ahead. And while the long summer days provide plenty of riding time, the high temperatures and humidity some regions experience can also make simply caring for horses a challenging endeavor and raise countless questions: Does my horse need a fan in his stall? How do make sure my horse is properly conditioned to ride in the heat? How can I keep my horse cool when I trailer her?

To answer these questions and provide additional, veterinarian-approved information on caring for horses during the hottest part of the year, we've compiled 10 summer horse care resources available for free on TheHorse.com.

Article: Caring For Horses in Extreme Heat—As nearly half the United States is battling extreme summer temperatures, many horse owners are struggling to help their horses adjust, stay healthy, and remain comfortable. TheHorse.com caught up with Nancy Loving, DVM, an equine practitioner in Boulder, Colo., to find out what the most important things to consider are when caring for horses in extreme heat. Read More

Farm Call: Summer Horse Housing: Barn or Pasture with Shade?—Where is the best place for a horse during the hottest part of the day—in a barn with fans or outside? We are on a hill, so we usually have a pretty brisk breeze blowing. My thermometer in the barn is at 96° right now, probably hotter than outside in a shady spot. One place seems about as bad as the other in the heat. Read More

Article: 20 Hot Weather Trailering Tips—It's summer, and all kinds of diverse opportunities await you and your horse--shows, competitions, sales, trail riding, equine vacations, and more. Some events are just a couple of hours away, while others involve many hours, perhaps even a few days, of trailering. Should your journey take you and your equine traveling companions through areas of scorching heat or sweltering humidity, you need to take steps to protect your charges from the ovenlike temperatures and stresses that can occur in a horse trailer. Read More

Free Report: Conditioning Through the Seasons: Spring and Summer—As you plan your summer training schedule, keep in mind that your horse’s body will need time to adjust to new demands. Moreover, the way his body adapts to exercise will be affected by seasonal conditions such as heat and humidity. In this article we’ll explore how your horse’s body adapts to exercise training, how he acclimates to spring and summer weather conditions, and what you can do to help him perform at his best. Read More

Article: Summer Riding: When the Rider is Hot, the Horse is Hotter—A hot humid day. One rider. One horse. Both are exercising at a moderate level. Who is more likely to overheat? It might surprise you to know that your horse gets hotter, much faster than you and is more susceptible to the negative effects of heat stress. Read More

Article: Beat the Heat—As tough as steamy summers can be on humans, they can be even tougher on horses. That's because instead of choosing how they'll deal with the heat, horses often have to depend on us to make the right management choices for them. For advice on making those choices, we've turned to two equine veterinarians practicing in Florida, where heat plus humidity can deliver a double whammy to horses. Read More

Fact Sheet: Electrolytes—The average horse needs to drink 27-30 liters of water per day. In hot climates or during strenuous exercise, as many as 10-12 liters of water can be lost per hour through sweat alone. Loss of water during exercise and sweating is hypothesized to increase the osmolality of the blood, making horses want to drink to replenish lost fluids. The goal of electrolyte supplementation is to replace electrolytes lost through sweating and thereby restore the proper balance of electrolytes in the horse’s body. Read More

Podcast: Horses that won't Sweat: Anhidrosis—Summer can be a dangerous time for horses with anhidrosis, or a decreased ability or loss of ability to sweat in response to appropriate stimuli. Here, Erin Denney-Jones, DVM, discusses how to manage horses with anhydrosis. Learn More

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